Safe and protective means therefor



April 6, 1937.

' J. E. HUNNIGUTT` SAFE ANDPROTECTIVE MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In. i

April 6, 1937.v J. E. HUNNICUTT 2,076,085

SAFE AND PROTECTIVE' MEANS 'IREOR Filed Aug. 29, 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 JEDG/m /vfu/v/v/ 0077.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to protective means for safes, vaults or other depositories, and has for an object thereof, the prevention of forced access to its interior or of tampering with the said safe in any unauthorized manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereupon the attempt to break thru the walls or doors of the safe or to disturb the same from its position, a noxious gas, commonly known as tear eas. will be disseminated, which will quickly spread into the atmosphere and Yrender it impossible for any person to remain in the Vicinity of the safe.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereupon such unauthorized attempts, an alarm will be given which will attract persons outside of the building in which the safe is located and cause the capture of the person that may be attempting to escape under the effects oi the noxious gases.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a safe embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view in horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 4. l

Figure 3 is a front view in central vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a side view of my improved safe in central vertical section.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical View showing the electric circuits in combination with the protective elements of my invention.

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of one of the protecting frames used in my invention.

Figure '7 is a plan View in central horizontal section of one type of a circuit closing device used in my invention.

Figure 8 is a front view of the same.

Figure 9 is a front view of an electric switch lock used in my invention.

Figure 10 is a side view of the same.

Figure 11 is a side view in central vertical section illustrating one form of a gas bomb such as may be used in my invention.

As shown in the drawings, in which like numerals denote like characters in the different gures, my improved safe is constructed in the form of a cabinet comprising a sheet metal case 5 having an opening 'i-a. in the front wall thereof. The said cabinet is constructed so as to provide an upper compartment 6 and a lower compartment 'I that are separated by a partition 8. A door 9 is provided for the lower compartment, the said door having a flange 8 5: which is adapted to close against the front of the case, and a door I0 is provided for the upper compartment. The said door also has a surrounding flange II which closes against the front of the case, the bottom portion of said flange overlapping the lower door 9. Both of said doors are hinged to the case by means of hinges I2.

In order to attain the objects above set out, I provide inside of said case a series of electrically wired protecting frames which are secured in a suitable manner against the inside of the walls of the said case and doors thereof so that any attempt to break thru the said walls will cause the closing of an electrical circuit which will in turn cause an explosion of a gas bomb, in a manner to be hereinafter described, and at the same time ring an alarm bell that may be located in a suitable place at a distance from the said safe.

In the construction shown in the drawings, I provide side frames I3 and I4 which are positioned against the inside of the side walls of the case between the back wall I5 and that portion of the front wall I6 adjacent the opening 5 0..

A back frame I1 is provided against the back wall I5 and between the said side frames.

A top frame I8 is provided adjacent the top I9 of the case, supported on top of the side and back frames, and a bottom frame is provided adjacent the bottom of said safe underlying the side and back frames.

A similar frame 2| is provided within the partition 8. Another frame 22 of similar construction is provided within the upper door I0 and still another similar frame 23 is provided within the lower door 9.

The said top, bottom, side and back frames are insulated electrically from the case by means of suitable insulating sheets 24, such as paper or the like, which are so placed with relation to each of the said frames, as to provide the proper insulation between each of said frames as well as between the said frames and the case.

The frames 22 and 23 are also insulated from the doors by thev similar insulating sheets 24.

In order to enclose the said protective frames entirely within the walls forming the said safe, I provide lining plates, preferably of asbestos material, which also: possess suitable insulating properties. These plates are secured against the sides of the said protective frames to provide a lining for the entire inside surface of the safe and also to provide a means for supporting the partition 8 between the upper and lower compartments.

In order to clearly illustrate the `.construction and operation of my improved safe I will now describe the process of assembling the various protective frames, lining plates, electric circuits and other elements contained in my invention.

'I'he case 5 is iirst constructed by means of welding together the various sections forming the walls thereof, and the said doors 9 and ID, which are also of welded construction, are hinged thereto preferably by welding the hinges to the doors and case. n

The frames I8 and 2U are first placed in their relative position adjacent the top and bottom walls of the case. The side frames I3 and I4 are then placed in their respective position against the side walls. The back frame I1 is then placed against the back wall and between the said top, bottom and side frames as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The frame 2| is then placed in its respective position against the back frame and between the side frames. The frames 22 and 23 are then placed in the doors 9 and I0.

After all of said frames have been placed in their respective positions as above described, they are connected to an electrical circuit, which will be hereinafter described, by means of a series of electric locks, electric circuit closers and plugs. After the said wiring has been completed the lining plates 25, 26 and 21 are secured respectively to the frames I8, 20 and 2I. The side lining plates 28-28 are then secured to the side frames I3 and I4 to form the sides of the upper compartment and the side lining plates 29-29 are secured against said side frames to form the sides of the lower compartment. 'I'he back lining plate 30 is then secured to the back frame I1 to form the back of the upper compartment and the lining plate 3l is secured to the said back frame to form the back of the lower compartment. It will be noted that, as illustrated in the drawings, the lining plates forming the sides and back of the upper compartment and those forming the sides and back of the lower compartment are so arranged that they will support between them the partition 8 and also retain in position the top lining plate 25 and also lining plate 21.

'I'he lining plate 32 is secured to the frame 22 in the upper door and the lining plate 33 issecured to the frame 23 of the lower door while the said frames are secured to the doors and one side of the frames as well as by nails or screws which extend thru the opposite edges of the doors into the frames.

A metallic plate 34 is secured to the upper side of the frame 2l, and insulated therefrom by the insulating sheet 24, forming a floor for the upper compartment, and a similar plate 34-a is secured to the lining plate 26 on top of the bottom frame 20 to provide a floor for the lower compartment. It will be noted that the entire interior of the safe is surrounded by the lining plates which, being constructed of an asbestos material, offer a suitable degree of protection against fire.

My invention as described and comprised in the form illustrated is intended to be used as follows:

When in use, my improved safe is secured in a desired location by means of screws, which may extend thru the bottom thereof within the insulating bushings 35-35.

It is intended that access to the safe shall be permitted to two persons, oneof said persons having access only to the upper compartment, while the other person has access only to the lower compartment.

'I'he person having access to the upper com`- partment is provided with a key for the electric lock 36 at the top of the safe, or in any other location which may be preferred, and also with a key for the lock 31 in the door of the upper compartment.

The person having access into the lower compartment is provided with a key for the electric lock 38, positioned in the floor of the upper compartment, and also with a key for the lock 38-a in the door of the lower compartment.

The person having access into the upper compartment may deposit articles in the lower compartment by dropping them thru the slot SII-b. Such articles which are deposited in the lower compartment may be removed therefrom only by the persons having access thereto.

This particular application of my invention, provides a. safe which is especially adaptable for use in such places aschain stores where the attendant or cashier of the store may be authorized to have access to the upper compartment of the safe for depositing valuables or money therein. He may be required to deposit daily into the lower compartment, any surplus amounts of money which are to be protected therein until removed therefrom by the collector having the proper keys for access to the said lower compartment.

Said collector, however, cannot gain access into the lower compartment without the presence of the other person who must first open the upper compartment door.

I will now describe the various protecting devices which are employed such as the protecting frames, the electric circuit closers, the electric locks and the gas bomb all of which are clearly illustrated in the drawings.

As illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, each of the protective frames above described have a pair of wires 39 wound thereon, each of which wires are connected to one side of an electrical circuit as hereinafter described. These wires are wound on the said frames in pairs and parallel to each other so that each wire will cross, but not touch, the other on the opposite side of the frame as at 40. When the said wires are forced either in a direction thru the frame or sidewise, each of the wires being forced will contact with its adjacent wire and thus close the electric-al circuit to which said wires are connected.

One form of a circuit closing device such as employed in my invention is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 and consists of a plate 4I in which is mounted a spring operated plunger 42 having a contact finger 43. An electrical contact strip 44 is mounted on said plate 4I, insulated therefrom by an insulating plate 45 and secured to said plate 4I by means of a sleeve 46 which is in electrical contact with the said strip 44, but insulated from the plate 4i. When the said circuit closing device is connected to an electrical circuit it is screwed in position by means of screws projecting thru the opening 41 and thru the sleeve 46. The electric wires indicated at 48 are attached to the said screws, thus forming a connection for an electrical circuit which is broken or closed by the said device by means of the sliding motion of the plunger 42. It will be readily understood that when pressurev is applied to said plunger, it is forced inwardly on the plate, breaking the contact between the nger 43 and the contact strip 44. When the said plunger is released, the spring 49 will return it to its outward position, closing the contact between the said finger and strip.

In Figures 9 and 10 I have illustrated an electric lock such as commonly used in connection with electrical circuits. The said lock consists of an ordinary tumbler lock having the usual barrel 50 which is secured in place by means of the nut 5I threaded thereto. A pair of electrical connection strips 52 are provided on said b-arrel and insulated therefrom by an insulating washer 53.

A suitable switch mechanism is contained within 10 the barrel 50 which is adapted to make and break a contact between the connection strips 52 when the said lock is operated by a key.

The gas bomb, such as used in connection with my improved safe and as illustrated in Figure ll of the drawings, consists of a shell 54 which contains therein a. noxious gas making material 55. A sealing disc 56 of insulating material is secured to the mouth of the said shell and a pair of electrical terminals 51 extend therethru to an electrical resistance element 58. When electricity is caused to flow thru the said terminals,

the said resistance element will become quickly heated to a degree sufficient to ignite the g-as material 55 and cause the explosion of the said bomb which will result in the quick dissemination of gas into the atmosphere.

All of the above protective devices are operatively connected to a main electrical circuit which is suitably arranged within the walls of my im-` proved safe, by means of a pair of wires 59 to which is connected an electrical source such as a battery 60. A gas bomb 6I as above described, is connected to the said circuit and may be contained in a convenient manner within the container 62 located in the bottom compartment of the safe.

An electric circuit closing device 63, such as shown in Figure '7 of the drawings, is positioned within the side frame i4 and in operative rela- 40 tion with the door l0 of the upper compartment. The electric switch lock 36 is connected to the main electrical circuit in series with the said electrical circuit closer 63. A similar electric switch lock 38 is connected to one of the wires 59 of the main circuit as clearly shown in the drawings.

A circuit closing device 64 is positioned in the front of the partition 8 in operative relation with the lower compartment door and connected to the main circuit. Another circuit closing device 65 is also connected to the main circuit and positioned in the bottom frame 20 and arranged to extend thru the back wall of the safe. Still another circuit closing device 66 is located in the bottom frame 20 and arranged to extend thru the bottom of the safe. All of said frames are electrically connected to the main circuit by pairs of wires 61.

An alarm is provided in connection with my above mentioned protective device which is connected therewith thru an electric connection 68. This electric connection consists of an electric receptacle plug preferably located as at 69 in the side wall of the safe, and an electric plug 1U adapted to t in said receptacle as hereinafter to be described.

The said receptacle plug consists of cont-act members 1I-1l and the plug of contact members 12-12.

A pair of wires 13 extend from said plug to an electromagnet 13--a. One of said wires extends directly to the said magnet while the other wire extends to one side of a battery or electric source 14 which is connected from the other side thereof to the said magnet.

A metallic sheath 15 is provided to protect the wires 13 and the said sheath is electrically connected tooneof said wires 13 as shown at 15-a.

An alarm bell 16 is provided which may be positioned at a suitable location, such as at the outside of the building, and connected to the battery 14 by means of a wire 11 extending to one side of said battery, and another wire 18 which is interrupted by a switch comprising contacts 19 and 80, to the other side of said battery. The operation of the protective means which I have just described is as follows:

Assuming that the safe is installed and secured in position, and that the same is locked, and that the person having access tothe upper compartment desires to open the same, the operation is as follows:

The said person, being provided with the proper key, will rst open the lock switch 36 breaking the circuit in the wire 8 I, whichv extends thru said lock from the main circuit to the circuit closing device 63. With the circuit being broken thru said lock switch, the said person is free to open the door to the upper compartment as the operation of the circuit closing device 63 cannot close the main electric circuit 59. The said person after closing the compartment door will again close the lock switch 36, thus restoring the safe to its original state.

If the person having access to the lower compartment wishes to open the said safe, the person having access to the upper compartment will first open the door to said compartment. The other person will then open the lock switch 38,

thus breaking the main circuit thru. the .wire

BI-b and rendering the entire protective device inoperative. This will permit the said person to open the door to the lower compartment without causing the o-peration of the said device.

Assuming that an unauthorized person attempts to gain access into the said safe; if he should attempt to force an opening thru the walls or doors thereof, he will cause one of the wires 39 on the frames to come into contact with its adjacent wire which will close the main circuit and cause the explosion of the gas bomb 6|. Assuming further, that the said unauthorized person attempts to force open one of the compartment doors; he will cause one of the circuit closing devices 63 or 64 to contact, thus closing the main circuit and exploding the gas bomb.

Should an attempt be made to move the safe away from, the wall against which it is positioned, the circuit closing device 65 will close the main circuit and explode the. bomb. Should an at tempt be made to lift the safe so as to carry it away, the circuit closing device 66 'will cause theV gas bomb toi exp-lode. It can, therefore, be readily understood that, any unauthorized person attempting to move the safe or to carry it away from its xed position will necessarily cause explosion of the bomb and be compelled to immediately leave the said safe and its vicinity.

Whenever the main circuit is closed as in any of the attempts. above described, the closing of said circuit will cause the energizing of theV magnet 13-a. which will pull the contact 80 into locking position with the contact member 19 and establish a circuit from the battery 14 thru the wires 11 and 18. This will cause the bell 16 toy ring, and continue to ring until the contact between the members 19 and 80 is again broken by manual operation.

If a person should attempt to pull out the plug 10 from the receptacle 1I, the contact ngersr-75 12--12 will close against each other thus closing the alarm circuit thru the wires 13 to the magnet 'H and causing the battery to energize the said magnet which will in turn close the contacts 19 and as above described and cause the ringing of the alarm bell. When the said plug 12 is pulled out of the receptacle 68, the contacts 1 I-'H will also close. This will not, however, close the main circuit and explode the gas bomb but will complete the main circuit thru the wires BI- for operation of the protective means independent of the alarm bell.

If an attempt should be made to cut the wires 13 which are incased in the sheath 14, a contact will be made, on cutting thru the sheath 14, between the said two wires or between the wires and the said sheath, causing the closing of the circuit at that point which,wil1 operate the magnet and consequently the bell as hereinbefore described.

It can be readily seen from the above specification and the drawings that by my invention I have provided a novel safe and protective means therefor against any attempts by unauthorized persons to gain access to its interior, or to move the said safe, and that I have provided such a device which is eilicient as well as economical to produce.

It is to be understood, however, that the construction and operation of the device as above described and illustrated is for the purpose of exemplifying my invention and that the samemay be changed to a greater or lesser degree without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A protective system for a safe having a plurality of compartments, said protective system comprising a main electric circuit partly distributed within the walls of said safe, key operated means for disconnecting a portion of said circuit to permit entrance into one of the compartments of said safe, separate key operated means positioned within said compartment whereby another portion of said circuit may be opened to permit entrance into another cornpartment of said safe, a source of energy, a protective device located within said safe and a remotely positioned alarm in said circuit, said alarm being connected to said circuit by an extension therefrom and adapted to be operated together with said protective device upon the closing of said main circuit; the said extension comprising a separate circuit having a separate source of energy therein, and means for connecting said separate source of energy to said alarm for operation thereof upon disconnecting said extension from said main circuit.

2. For a safe comprising a plurality of compartments and having a door for each of said compartments; a protective system comprising a normally open electric circuit distributed within the walls of said safe and entirely surrounding each of said compartments, a source of energy in said circuit, a gas bomb contained within one of said compartments and connected to said circuit whereby the same is adapted to be exploded when the said circuit is closed, the said circuit having connected in parallel therewith a normally open electric circuit closing device connectthe rst of said compartments is opened, a nor- Vmally closed key operated electric switch in said extension operable from the outside of said safe and adapted to disconnect said circuit closing device from said circuit to permit the opening of said door of the first compartment without causing the explosion of said gas bomb, a normally open second circuit closing device in said circuit adapted to be operated by the door of the second compartment to close said circuit when said door is opened, and a normally closed separate key operated switch in said circuit and located Within the said iirst compartment whereby said circuit may be broken to permit the opening of the door of said second compartment without causing the explosion of said bomb.

3. For a safe of the character described, a protective system comprising a normally open main electric circuit distributed Within the walls of said safe, a source of energy in said circuit, a gas bomb located within said safe and connected in said main circuit whereby the same is adapted to be exploded upon the closing of said circuit, an alarm remote from said safe, a separate electric circuit for said alarm comprising a separate source of energy and an electric magnetic device for closing said alarm circuit, a connecting device for connecting said alarm circuit to, and extending the same through, the said main circuit, said connecting device comprising a member for automatically closing said alarm circuit and completing the said main circuit when the said alarm circuit is disconnected therefrom.

4. A safe of the character described comprising a normally open electric circuit distributed Within the walls thereof, a source of energy in said circuit, a gas bomb located within said safe and connected in said circuit whereby the same is adapted to be exploded upon the closing of said circuit, alarm means comprising a bell lo- .cated at a point remote from said safe, a separate electric circuit comprising a separate source of energy for operating said bell when said circuit is closed, a receptacle plug in one of said circuits, an attachment plug in the other of said circuits whereby the said bell circuit is connected into the said main circuit by the engagement of the said receptacle plug with the said attachment plug,

each of said plugs comprising circuit closing v means self-operating when the said plugs are clisconnected from each other whereby, upon such disconnection, closing of the said bell circuit and completion of said main circuit is caused.

5. For a safe of the'character described comprising a rst and second compartment and doors for each of said compartments; a protective system comprising an electric circuit distributed within the Walls of said safe and entirely surprising parallel negative and positive wires adapted to be brought into contact with each other to close said circuit when an unauthorized forceful attempt is made to gain access into said safe, separate circuit closing devices connected to said circuit and adapted to be operated by said doors, a key operated electric switch adapted to disconnect from said circuit that one of said circuit closing devices which is operated by the door of one of the said compartments to permit opening of said door without closing of said circuit, and another key operated switch` located within said compartment whereby said circuit may be broken to permit the opening of the door,

upon the closing of said circuit, said circuit com-l 60 of the next compartment without closing said circuit.

6. For a safe oi the character described comprising a case having a plurality of compartments and a door for each of said compartments, a protective system including a series of frames disposed within the walls of said case and entirely surrounding each of said compartments, an electric circuit comprising a pair of electric conductors consisting of a negative and positive wire wound around the said frames parallel to and spaced from each other and adapted to contact with each other and close said circuit when an unauthorized forceful attempt is made to gain access into said safe, a source of energy in said circuit, a gas bomb in said circuit adapted to be exploded when the said circuit is closed and located in one of said compartments, circuit closing devices operatable by each oi said doors to close said circuit, a key operated switch positioned outside of said safe for disconnecting one oi said circuit closing devices to permit opening of the door of one of said compartments without closing said circuit and a second key operated switch located Within the said compartment to break said circuit and permit opening of the door of the next compartment without causing the explosion of the said gas bomb.

7. A normally open protective electric circuit for a safe comprising a plurality of compartments, a door for each of said compartments, a gas bomb in said circuit, said gas bomb being located in one of said compartments and adapted to be exploded when said circuit is closed, said circuit being distributed within the walls of said compartments and arranged therein to provide means whereby the same will be closed upon a forceful attempt to gain access into said compartments, circuit closing means operatable by each of the doors of said compartments, a key operated switch for disconnecting one of said circuit closing means from said circuit to permit opening of the door of the first of said compartment without causing the closing of said circuit and a separate key operated switch located Within said iirst compartment and adapted to disconnect another of said circuit closing means to permit opening of the door of the next compartment without causing the closing of said circuit.

8. A normally open protective electric system for a safe comprising a plurality of compartments, said system including a main electric circuit distributed within the walls of said safe, a gas bomb in said circuit, said gas bomb being 1ocated within one of said compartments and adapted to be exploded when the said circuit is closed, doors for each of said compartments, circuit closing means operatable by said doors to close said circuit, a key operated switch located outside of said safe for rendering the operation of one of said circuit closing means, by the door of the first of said compartments, inoperative upon said circuit and another key operated switch positioned Within the said first compartment and adapted to render the operation of another of said circuit closing means, by the door of the next compartment, inoperative upon said circuit to permit opening of the said. door of the next compartment without causing the explosion Lof the said bomb.

J. EDGAR HUNNICUTT. 

